Thursday, September 10, 2026
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India’s COVID tally past 73 lakh, death toll tops 1,11,000

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India increased to 73,07,098 with a single jump of 67,708 fresh cases in the past 24 hours, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll has reached to 1,11,266 with 680 fatalities reported during this period.

So far, 63,83,442 patients have been cured and recovered all over the country while active cases stands at 8,12,390. With this, the recovery rate further jumps to 87.35 per cent in India.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 15,54,389, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 7,67,465 cases, and Karnataka with 7,35,371 positive cases.

Other states with a high virus hit included Tamil Nadu (6,70,392), Uttar Pradesh (4,44,711) and Delhi (3,17,548).

Meanwhile, of the total deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 40,859 fatalities, followed by Tamil Nadu with 10,423 deaths.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 5,898, while 2,89,747 patients have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative total of 9,12,26,305 samples tested for COVID-19, up to October 14. Of these, 11,36,183 samples were tested yesterday.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health also said that India’s doubling time has sharply increased to 70.4 days, from 25.5 days in mid-August. This indicates a substantial fall in the daily new cases and the consequent increase in time taken to double the total cases.

-RJV

Tributes paid to APJ Abdul Kalam

APJ Abdul Kalam

New Delhi (NVI): Tributes pour in from across the nation to former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam on his 89th birth anniversary today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were among the political leaders who remembered Dr Kalam, popularly known as the “Missile Man of India”.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, “Tributes to Dr Kalam on his Jayanti. India can never forget his indelible contribution towards national development, be it as a scientist and as the President of India. His life journey gives strength to millions.”

The Prime Minister also shared a brief video from his twitter account of one in which he mention all about APJ Abdul Kalam.

Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tributes to Dr Kalam and said, “Remembering Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on his jayanti. A visionary leader and architect of India’s space & missile programmes, who always wanted to build a strong and self-reliant India. His immortal legacy in the field of science and education is an epitome of inspiration,” he tweeted.

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931 in Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram.

Dr Kalam studied physics and aerospace engineering, and worked with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as a scientist and an administrator before becoming the 11th President of India in 2002.

On July 27, 2015, Dr Kalam had breathed his last in Shillong while delivering a lecture to students at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM).

-RJV

Huge potential to take Indo-Gulf economic relations to higher level: MEA Secretary

New Delhi (NVI): Indians are the most preferred migrants in the Gulf region and human resource exchange between both the countries is set to see a new horizon which will benefit both sides, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, said today.

While addressing a session on Gulf & West Asia Session Reimagining Business Beyond Oil during ‘FICCI LEADS 2020’, Bhattacharyya said that Indians are the largest expatriate community in the Arab world with nine million workers and professionals which form 30 per cent of all ex-pat workforce.

“With both India and the Arab region engaged in restructurings and transformational changes in the economy, the strong political understanding and goodwill between the people provide the tremendous potential to take the economic relationship to a higher level,” he said.

He further stated, “Skill mapping and skill matching of the employees will reduce transaction cost of hiring and ensure a competent workforce with improved job security and better compensation.”

Pointing out that India provided emergency medical supplies to several Arab countries, emerging as the first provider of humanitarian assistance to COVID-19,  he said that in the new COVID era, there will be changes in social interactions, institutional exchanges and individual preferences. “At the economic level, we will have to design a new normal which will depend on the revival of our old businesses,” said Bhattacharyya.

He explained that the key fundamentals of economic engagement, characterized by energy security and human resources, have a scope of further development. “The nature of our partnership has evolved over time from buyer-seller to a partnership and participation in upstream-downstream projects on both sides.” We must explore partnerships between the countries to develop oil and gas reserves of India which will make it a win-win solution for both, said the Secretary.

“The diversification of our trade basket beyond hydrocarbons must include engineering goods, gems and jewellery, precious metals, food products, textile and chemicals, which will provide further impetus to our trade relations,” the MEA Secretary said.

He further mentioned that the development of joint projects in third world countries, a stronger corporate presence in each other’s areas and expansion of connectivity will provide a new dimension for economic engagement.

Speaking on the future endeavours, Bhattacharyya said that FICCI LEADS 2002 agenda looks towards practical business solutions to optimize the opportunities and to maximize economic returns. “Our relationship is founded on strong traditional ties and deep political understanding. This is the best time to step up the economic relation, match the understanding at the political level by linking up with each other’s development priorities, future-oriented technologies, and people to people exchanges,” said Bhattacharyya.

“Cultural exchanges will promote goodwill among the people and facilitate further economic engagement,” he added.

Also present on the occasion, Redha bin Juma Al Saleh, Chairman, Oman Chamber of Commerce, and Industry Oman, said the government of Oman has come up with a number of amendments in taxation systems, bankruptcy rules and moving towards privatization to increase investment in Oman. “We assure India of all necessary services and we want to find better corporate relation between Oman and India,” he said.

Dr Mazin M Al Zaidi, Director, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Ministry of Investment, Saudi Arabia said, the Saudi Vision 2030 was to build the roadmap to diversify the economy. We wanted to shift from oil to new sectors, as diversification is a key element in doing business. Due to digitization in the post COVID era, many opportunities exist between both countries. “We want new investors to invest and add value to Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Dr Siddeek Ahmed, Chairman & MD, Eram Group, & Co-Chair, FICCI India-Arab Council said, the Middle East has envisaged its future engagement in India at a time when the economy is adapting through the disruptions created by COVID19. The major economies of the Middle East are looking at India for business collaborations to transform themselves and adapt to the new realities. “Adaptability is the key to the new normal,” said Dr Ahmed.

Dilip Chenoy, Secretary General FICCI said the new emerging technologies like fintech, edutech, health services, consultancy and others have huge business potential to leverage further growth and development.

-ARK

Abdullahs meet Mehbooba at her residence, invite her to all party meeting tmrw

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A day after former J&K chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti was released from detention, once arch-rivals and now political friends- National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah visited her Srinagar residence and invited her for an All Parties Meeting (APM) tomorrow.

Farooq called for the key Kashmir meeting, soon after meeting Mehbooba, to deliberate on the Gupkar declaration that calls for restoration of Article 370 and a position that existed before August 5, 2019 in the erstwhile state of J&K.

Mehbooba was released from the Public Safety Act (PSA) detention after 14 months yesterday. She was detained on August 4, 2019, a day before the Centre abolished Article 370 that gave a special status to the erstwhile state of J&K.

Politicians started visiting her Gupkar residence in Srinagar since morning. Farooq, along with his son Omar also visited Mehbooba later in the day.

Talking to reporters outside Mehbooba’s residence, Omar said that he along with his father had come to see Mehbooba as she was released after 14-months. “We asked for her health and overall condition. Thank god, she is in a good health. My father also met her and invited her for the All Party Meeting over Gupkar declaration tomorrow at 4 PM at our residence,” the former J&K chief minister said.

He said that in the APM, all parties which are signatories to the Gupkar declaration, will be invited so that a forward movement is made on the declaration.

Parties including National Conference, PDP, Congress, Peoples Conference led by Sajad Gani Lone, Awami National Conference (ANC) and CPI (M) led by M Y Tarigami are signatories to the declaration. The Gupkar declaration calls for restoration of Article 370 and re-unification of erstwhile J&K State, now a Union Territory.

-ARK

Major assault by Taliban to capture Helmand province in Afghanistan

(Pic courtesy: TOLO news)

New Delhi (NVI): Even as peace talks between Taliban and Afghan government are underway, the terrorist organisation has launched a major offensive to capture southern province of Helmand, according to reports.

Massive clashes have been reported from Helmand over the last few days, particularly its capital Lashkar Gah, causing heavy casualties and forcing thousands of people to flee the province.

The Taliban, which aims to capture Helmand, has launched coordinated attacks in different parts of the province, according to the spokesperson of the provincial Governor.

The government forces are fighting back with determination but there have been reports of local police abandoning their posts in some places.

According to some local media reports, the Taliban has also cut off the highway leading to the adjoining Kandahar province.

Afghan Senator Gulalai Akbari was quoted as saying that Helmand-like situation could be seen in other provinces and even in Kabul if the government “continues to ignore what’s happening”.

Senate Speaker Fazl Hadi Muslimyar said the federal government needs to rush more forces to Helmand and all other provinces.

The US forces in Afghanistan have conducted targeted air strikes against Taliban in Helmand, according to the spokesperson, who promised to support the Afghan government forces against the Taliban.

Gen. Scott Miller, the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan Gen Scott Miller said, “The Taliban need to immediately stop their offensive actions in Helmand province and reduce their violence around the country. It is not consistent with the US-Taliban agreement and undermines the ongoing Afghan peace talks.”

The Taliban attacks come even as representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban are holding intra-Afghan negotiations in Qatari capital Doha, with an aim of ending the decades-long war.

Biegun concludes India visit, underscores enhanced cooperation among Quad

(Pic: Twitter @harshvshringla)

New Delhi (NVI): US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who concluded his October 12-14 visit to India, has laid emphasis on enhanced cooperation among the Quad member nations to create resilient supply chains, promote transparency, and increase maritime security, with special focus on a free and open Indo-Pacific.

At the India-US Forum yesterday, Biegun joined Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla to underscore the importance of the US-India partnership, particularly in advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific, said a release by the US State Department.

“The Deputy Secretary emphasized the work of the Quad toward a region protected and made prosperous in equal measure by strong and peaceful nations in the Indo-Pacific,” read the official statement.

During his meeting with FS Shringla, Biegun touched upon topics most recently discussed in the October 6 meeting of Foreign Ministers attended by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The US Deputy Secretary’s visit to India also comes amid a bitter stand-off between India and China at LAC (Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh). Recently, Pompeo had slammed Beijing’s coercive actions, including against India on the Ladakh border. His remarks came during Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tokyo, which was also attended by EAM S Jaishankar.

The Quad Foreign Ministers (US, India, Australia and Japan) had met in Japan’s capital against the backdrop of growing aggression by China because of which most of its neighbors are troubled and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region has been hampered.

In his meetings with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla, and Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar, the Deputy Secretary discussed US efforts to work with India and like-minded partners on a range of issues including regional security, economic cooperation, and coordinated efforts to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apart from that, in New Delhi, Deputy Secretary Biegun also met with Bhutanese Ambassador to India Major General Vetsop Namgyel to reaffirm the United States’ close relationship with the people of Bhutan.

The Deputy Secretary also delivered keynote remarks at the India-US Forum and met with senior Indian government officials ahead of the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year.

-ARK

Army foils BAT action bid from Pak side along LoC in J&K’s Kupwara

Narco smuggling
Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir (File Pic)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI) The Indian Army today foiled an infiltration attempt by Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar area of north Kashmir’s Kuwpara district, defence officials said.

They said that early this morning, suspicious activity of three to four intruders was observed by the alert troops, close to the forward post along the LoC. “Timely action by alert troops averted the infiltration bid. Area surveillance and search is under progress,” Srinagar based Army’s Chinar Corps said in a tweet.

They said that the alert troops noticed the movement of at least four persons who were part of BAT who were heavily armed. “Either they wanted to sneak in or else they wanted to drop the weapons consignment to this side,” an army official posted in Tangdhar said.

He said that BAT action bid was foiled after a long time as Pakistan army has been regular resorting to ceasefire violations to push in militants into this side. “Alert troops laced with the latest gadgets noticed the suspicious movement in the wee hours today and accordingly foiled the same,” the army official said.

However, the Indian Army has foiled a number of infiltration bids along LoC this year. Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps Commander Lieutenant General BS Raju recently said that this year, only 30 infiltrators had managed to sneak into this side of LoC compared to 126 last year from January to October.

J&K Director General of Police (DGP) J&K Dilbag Singh had also recently said that 180 militants were killed this year so far that include over 80 foreign militants as well.

-ARK

Cabinet approves World Bank aided STARS project to strengthen school education

UGC NET exam
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved the World Bank supported Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) project to strengthen school education.

With this approval, the STARS project under the New Education Policy (NEP), will support the states for improving education outcomes in six states of the nation in near future.

The total cost of the project supported by the World Bank is Rs 5,718 crore.

The project would be implemented as a new centrally sponsored scheme under the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education.

The states to be benefitted from this new project include Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Odisha.

Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “The Modi government has started implementing the NEP-2020 and as part of the process it has approved the Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) project.”

The project will help the states in developing, implementing, evaluating & improving interventions with direct linkages to improved education outcomes and school to work transition strategies for improved labor market outcomes.

Along with this, the Cabinet today has also approved a special package worth Rs. 520 crore under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and has also demerged Nagarnar Steel Plant from National Minerals Development Corporation Ltd.

-CHK

Cabinet approves Rs 520 crore package for J&K, Ladakh under DAY-NRLM

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet today approved a special package worth Rs 520 crore in the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) for a period of five years.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar made the announcement during a cabinet meeting and said the package will ensure sufficient funds under the mission to both the Union Territories.

The decision is also in line with Government’s aim to universalize all centrally sponsored beneficiary-oriented schemes in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh in a time bound manner, the statement quoted Javadekar.

However, this is based on the outcomes of the evaluation pointing to potential of the mission to improve the quality of life of rural households and women’s empowerment and given the changed circumstances in the UTs of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh.

The NRLM, introduced in 2011, is a centrally sponsored programme that aims at eliminating rural poverty through promotion of multiple livelihoods for the rural poor households across the country.

The programme “seeks to reach out to all rural poor households, estimated at about 10 crore households, and impact their livelihoods through universal social mobilization by inter alia organizing one-woman member from each rural poor household into Self Help Groups (SHGs), their training and capacity building, facilitating their micro-livelihoods plans, and enabling them to implement their livelihoods plans through accessing financial resources from their own institutions and the banks,” the statement added.

The Union Minister also stated that due to technical reasons, the program was not widely applicable in the two UTs for the longest time, and very few women were identified for the program from the region.

However, the criteria has now been specially modified for both Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with the program covering 2/3rd of the rural families in the UTs.

Furthermore, the other distinguishing features of the programme is that it is implemented in a Mission mode by special purpose vehicles with dedicated implementation support units at the national, state, district and block levels, using professional human resources in order to provide continuous and long-term handholding support to each rural poor family.

The DAY-NRLM has been implemented in the erstwhile state of J&K by the Jammu and Kashmir State Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKSRLM) as “Umeed” programme. The Special Package as approved in May 2013, and subsequently extended by a year to up to 2018-19, the statement added.

-RJV

Mumbai Metro to restart from tomorrow

New Delhi (NVI): Maharashtra government today announced that metro rail services can operate in Mumbai from tomorrow, October 15, in a graded manner with precautions.

The announcement came amid several other relaxations under the state government’s fresh ‘Begin Again’ guidelines for the month of October amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Among other relaxations, the state government also announced re-opening of government and private libraries.

It also allowed business-to-business exhibitions from tomorrow outside containment zones.

With an aim to reduce crowd, markets and shops will be allowed to remain open for two additional hours till 9 pm from tomorrow.

-CHK

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